Review 103: The Bourne Ultimatum
Of all the films The Bourne Trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum is by far the best.
Loosely based on the third novel in The Bourne Trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum. Set six weeks after the events of The Bourne Supremacy, Bourne learns that a British journalist has been investigating his past and contacts him to find out who his source is. Bourne is subsequently targeted by Operation Blackbriar, an upgraded Operation Treadstone, which has also taken note of the investigation. Believing that Bourne is a threat and is seeking revenge, Blackbriar's director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) begins a new hunt for Bourne. One that will ultimately lead Bourne to finding out who he really is.
Loosely based on the third novel in The Bourne Trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum. Set six weeks after the events of The Bourne Supremacy, Bourne learns that a British journalist has been investigating his past and contacts him to find out who his source is. Bourne is subsequently targeted by Operation Blackbriar, an upgraded Operation Treadstone, which has also taken note of the investigation. Believing that Bourne is a threat and is seeking revenge, Blackbriar's director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) begins a new hunt for Bourne. One that will ultimately lead Bourne to finding out who he really is.
What The Bourne Ultimatum is, is not a film. It's a complete, non stop roller coster ride. It keeps you on your toes from beginning to end. It also picks up almost exactly were the previous film left off, unlike most sequels, it isn't set a few years after the last film, it set only a short time after which can get really involved.
Unlike the first two film we don't wait for Bourne to be scared/forced to go into action we jump straight into the action. He doesn't have Marie to guide him, he's literally on his own with only himself to turn to.
The Bourne Ultimatum is ultimately the story of how Jason Bourne became Jason Bourne and I think thats the story everyones been waiting for. The first two films were about questions e.g. Who am I? What am I? This film is about answers. The answers Bourne gets in the first two films are satisfying but not complete and in this film he has to end this quest. And it's such a facinating quest Bourne goes on and it's not a frustrating journey he goes because we as an audience are happy to go on the journey with him and see what he finds. We stare at this character in amasement and wonder "who is this guy? Where does he come from? Whats his story? And finally we get the answers to all those questions. It ties everything up in a nice bundle.
Like Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King it is a finale that doesn't disappoint.
Apart from being the film that reveals Bourne's true identity, what makes The Bourne Ultimatum so great is it's insight into government and espionage. It truly feels like it's actually happening and the government are actually spying on the general public. Also the characters that are portrayed in the film are truly human. You can really get inside there heads and imagine how tired they are, what lengths would they go to get what they wanted? Where would these people be in their heads right now.
These three films really take there themes really seriously and you can truly get inside it.
Bourne really is a real man in a real world in pursuit of a mythic quest. What's wonderful is that it's an oppositional story. Is he a killer, or was he made to be a killer? There is an underlying feeling that Bourne is one of us, and he's running away from "them." He's trying to get answers, and he doesn't trust them. They're all bad, and the system's corrupted.
And that another great thing about this film is representation of a corrupt spy organisation: Characters like C.I.A director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) and his cronies really represent the corrupt and the greedy in the government and thats really relevant to this day.
Returning director Paul Greengrass' direction is sharp (he really knew were to take the franchise to the next level). His beautiful hand-held camera ads to the intensity of the action scenes and gives them a visceral grit rarely found in action films today. It's fast paced (it's without a doubt the most fast paced film of the whole trilogy. It starts and literally never stops. Everything is so fast paced and get it and get to it and get it and lets go, lets go lets go. everything moves at the adrenaline speed). The cinematography is gorgeous and captures the beauty of the locations, the score by John Powell is beautiful and also the best of the series, the production design is splendid, the costumes are excellent, the locations are wonderful, the sound effects are terrific, the scenery is breathtaking, the stunts are incredible, the chase scenes and the fights are amazing and brilliantly choreographed, the props are well crafted, there are some great moments of sardonic humor, the tension and the suspense keep rising as the film goes on and the ending was superb.
The acting is splendid across the board and the best of the series.
Matt Damon was born to play Jason Bourne and has rightfully made this literacy character his own. He has carried this trilogy on his two shoulder all the way through, thats how awesome he is.
Julia Stiles is sensitive and mesmirising as Nicky Parsons. Nicky has a considerably bigger role in this film compared to the last two films and she's not just here as the obligatory love interest, she truly feels compassionate towards Jason and cares about him and wants to help him find out who he is.
Her sympathy towards Bourne as well as her guidence and intelligence play a vital part in this final chapter and Stiles really shines here.
Throughout the film, it is hinted that the two of them had a relationship prior to his amnesia, though, ultimately, the actual details are left ambiguous and up for interpretation.
Nonetheless, their relationship is truly moving because, thanks in no small part to her experience monitoring his and the other Treadstone agents behaviour, she is one of the few people who truly understands him..
David Strathairn is just sick as Noah Vosen, the C.I.A deputy director. He is totally ruthless in the various ways he can find to dispose of Bourne
Scott Glenn
The film also features a very noteworthy performance from Edgar Ramirez as Blackbriar assassin Paz.
Albert Finney has a very interesting role in this film playing Dr. Albert Hirsch. The psychologist originally behind the Treadstone program. He's responsible for making Jason the man who he is
Joan Allen is wonderful once again as Pamela Landy, she really is intrigued by Bourne, she's sort of on his side but she's working for the C.I.A which makes her the middle man and throughout the whole film she keeps thinking how great it would be to bring him in. She wants to know the truth about him
I think The Bourne Trilogy will one day (and I'm saying this as though it were 2007, the year it came out) will one day in twenty or thirty years time be seen as one the best spy trilogies of the 2000's and it's films like these that make me appriciate how lucky I am to be able to review so many great, iconic and classic film, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
Unlike the first two film we don't wait for Bourne to be scared/forced to go into action we jump straight into the action. He doesn't have Marie to guide him, he's literally on his own with only himself to turn to.
The Bourne Ultimatum is ultimately the story of how Jason Bourne became Jason Bourne and I think thats the story everyones been waiting for. The first two films were about questions e.g. Who am I? What am I? This film is about answers. The answers Bourne gets in the first two films are satisfying but not complete and in this film he has to end this quest. And it's such a facinating quest Bourne goes on and it's not a frustrating journey he goes because we as an audience are happy to go on the journey with him and see what he finds. We stare at this character in amasement and wonder "who is this guy? Where does he come from? Whats his story? And finally we get the answers to all those questions. It ties everything up in a nice bundle.
Like Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King it is a finale that doesn't disappoint.
Apart from being the film that reveals Bourne's true identity, what makes The Bourne Ultimatum so great is it's insight into government and espionage. It truly feels like it's actually happening and the government are actually spying on the general public. Also the characters that are portrayed in the film are truly human. You can really get inside there heads and imagine how tired they are, what lengths would they go to get what they wanted? Where would these people be in their heads right now.
These three films really take there themes really seriously and you can truly get inside it.
Bourne really is a real man in a real world in pursuit of a mythic quest. What's wonderful is that it's an oppositional story. Is he a killer, or was he made to be a killer? There is an underlying feeling that Bourne is one of us, and he's running away from "them." He's trying to get answers, and he doesn't trust them. They're all bad, and the system's corrupted.
And that another great thing about this film is representation of a corrupt spy organisation: Characters like C.I.A director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) and his cronies really represent the corrupt and the greedy in the government and thats really relevant to this day.
Returning director Paul Greengrass' direction is sharp (he really knew were to take the franchise to the next level). His beautiful hand-held camera ads to the intensity of the action scenes and gives them a visceral grit rarely found in action films today. It's fast paced (it's without a doubt the most fast paced film of the whole trilogy. It starts and literally never stops. Everything is so fast paced and get it and get to it and get it and lets go, lets go lets go. everything moves at the adrenaline speed). The cinematography is gorgeous and captures the beauty of the locations, the score by John Powell is beautiful and also the best of the series, the production design is splendid, the costumes are excellent, the locations are wonderful, the sound effects are terrific, the scenery is breathtaking, the stunts are incredible, the chase scenes and the fights are amazing and brilliantly choreographed, the props are well crafted, there are some great moments of sardonic humor, the tension and the suspense keep rising as the film goes on and the ending was superb.
The acting is splendid across the board and the best of the series.
Matt Damon was born to play Jason Bourne and has rightfully made this literacy character his own. He has carried this trilogy on his two shoulder all the way through, thats how awesome he is.
Julia Stiles is sensitive and mesmirising as Nicky Parsons. Nicky has a considerably bigger role in this film compared to the last two films and she's not just here as the obligatory love interest, she truly feels compassionate towards Jason and cares about him and wants to help him find out who he is.
Her sympathy towards Bourne as well as her guidence and intelligence play a vital part in this final chapter and Stiles really shines here.
Throughout the film, it is hinted that the two of them had a relationship prior to his amnesia, though, ultimately, the actual details are left ambiguous and up for interpretation.
Nonetheless, their relationship is truly moving because, thanks in no small part to her experience monitoring his and the other Treadstone agents behaviour, she is one of the few people who truly understands him..
David Strathairn is just sick as Noah Vosen, the C.I.A deputy director. He is totally ruthless in the various ways he can find to dispose of Bourne
Scott Glenn
The film also features a very noteworthy performance from Edgar Ramirez as Blackbriar assassin Paz.
Albert Finney has a very interesting role in this film playing Dr. Albert Hirsch. The psychologist originally behind the Treadstone program. He's responsible for making Jason the man who he is
Joan Allen is wonderful once again as Pamela Landy, she really is intrigued by Bourne, she's sort of on his side but she's working for the C.I.A which makes her the middle man and throughout the whole film she keeps thinking how great it would be to bring him in. She wants to know the truth about him
I think The Bourne Trilogy will one day (and I'm saying this as though it were 2007, the year it came out) will one day in twenty or thirty years time be seen as one the best spy trilogies of the 2000's and it's films like these that make me appriciate how lucky I am to be able to review so many great, iconic and classic film, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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